Toy balloon



H. R. GILL TOY BALLOON Dec- Filed Jan. 30, 1925 A TTORNE Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY R. GILL, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE EAGLE RUBBER COMPANY,

OF ASHLAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TOY BALLOON.

Application filed. January 30, 1925.

best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

' The present invention, relating, as indicated, t0 the manufacture of toy balloons, has more particular regard to the securing of anovel decorative effect in such balloons or in other thin-walled inflatable rubber articles. Otherwise stated, the object of the invention is to provide an article of the character described which is adapted to display one design in its uninflated condition and to display another diflerent design when it is inflated or distended.

To'the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a toy balloon embodying my present improvements, such balloon being shown in its normal uninflated condition; Fig. 2 is a similar view of such balloon shown in inflated or partially inflated condition, the degree of inflation, however, being vsuflicient to secure the effect hereinafter set forth; and Fig. 3 is a broken section through the one wall of such balloon in its inflated condition.

The body 1 of the balloon will be made in the same manner as at presentemployed in the manufacture of thin-walled rubber articles of this type. In other words, crude rubber properly milled is dissolved in a suitable solvent such as naphtha. A form having the desired shape is provided and the body is then built up by successive clippings of such form in the rubber solution. Finally, the body thus built up is vulcanized in the usual manner.

The body thus built up may consist of the Serial No. 5,904.

. rubber in its natural state, so far as color is concerned, or it may be given any desired color, a number of well known methods being available for thus coloring the body. For example, it may be immersed in a suitable dye solution after it has been built up on the form, as just described, and before it is subjected to vulcanization, or an oil soluble dye or other suitable coloring matter may be added to the solution of rubber and naphtha.

It is necessary, however, for the purpose in hand, that the coloring matter employed should not be of such a character or applied or incorporated in such an amount as to render the resultant article when inflated too opaque. In other words, the article when inflated will require to possess a certain degree of transparency if the novel effect characterizing the present invention is to be 75 obtained.

As hereinbefore indicated, the effect in question is the provision on the article, i. e. on body 1, of two designs, one of which will be visible in the deflated condition of the article, the other of which will become visible upon the inflated or distended condition of the article. Such first design, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, the representation 2 of a rose, is imprinted or otherwise placed 3 on the outside surface of the body 1 while in its normal collapsed condition; while the other design, e. g. the representation 3 of a girl, is imprinted or otherwise placed on the inside surface of such body and while it is in inflated or distended condition. These designs will be most conveniently placed on the article after it has been vulcanized and stripped from its form. The surface previously in contact with the form then becomes temporarily the outside surface; the balloon or equivalent article is then inflated and dcsign 3 imprinted on the one side thereof, following which the balloon is deflatcd, turned inside out, and while in normal collapsed condition design 2 is then impressed on what is now again the outside surface. Preferably, but not necessarily, such design 2 will be imprinted directly opposite design 3 so as to assist in obscuring the latter, although particularly where the body is dyed or otherwise colored. such body in itsdeflated condition will be suiiiciently opaque to obscure the design on its inner surface or at least render it quite inconspicuous. The design this design, as hereinbefore described, was

imprinted on the surface in question while the body was similarly distended.

By the aforesaid means a great number of interesting and novel effects can be secured. Thus, the toy balloon illustrated in the drawing in its collapsed condition will display an American Beauty rose and upon inflation of the balloon the picture of the rose will gradually disappear and dissolve into the picture of the girl 3, as shown in Fig. 2; or if desired, these may be employed reversely. In the same manner, the face of a crying child imprinted on the outside of the balloon will change into the face of a laughing child when the balloon is inflated. Similarly, an advertising slogan may be imprinted on the outside of the balloon and a representation of the article advertised on the inside, so that when the balloon is inflated, the picture of such article becomes visible.

No mouthpiece has been shown in connection with the toy balloon selected for illustrative purposes. It will be understood that the balloon may be blown up or inflated directly or a mouthpiece such as is familiarly used in so-called squawlrer balloons may be inserted and the user thus be entertained by the sound that may be produced as well as by the changing pictures obtained upon the alternate inflation and deflation of the balloon. The particular form of the body 1, whether that of the typical toy balloon or of some other article, is of course a matter of indifference, so fa as the principle of the invention is concerned.

Other forms may be employed embodying the features of my invention instead of the one here explained, change being made in the form or construction provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by my preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. As new article of manufacture, a thinwalled inflatable rubber body, the walls whereof are substantially transparent in the distended condition of the body, the latter having a design imprinted on its outer surface which is visible in the normal collapsed condition of the body but becomes substantially invisible upon distention thereof and a second design imprinted on its inner surface which becomes visible upon such distention of the body.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a thinwalled inflatable rubber body, the walls whereof are substantially transparent in the distended condition of the body, the latter h aving a design imprinted on its outer surface which is visible in the normal collapsed condition of the body but becomes substantially invisible upon distention thereof and a second different design imprinted on its inner surface which becomes visible upon such distention of the body.

As a new article of manufacture, a thinwalled inflatable rubber body, the walls whereof are substantially transparent in the distended condition of the body, the latter having a design imprinted on its outer surface which is visible in the normal collapsed conditionof the body but'becomes substantially invisible upon distention thereof and a second different design imprinted on its inner surface which becomes visible upon such distention of the body, such second design being located substantially directly opposite such first design.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a thinwalled inflatable rubber body, the walls whereof are substantially transparent in the distended condition of the body, the latter having a design imprinted on its outer surface which is visible in the normal collapsed condition of the body but becomes substantially invisible upon distention thereof and a second different design imprinted on its inner surface which becomes visible upon such distention of-the body, such second design being located substantially directly opposite such first design and being related thereto in subject-matter so as to produce a dissolving view effect.

Signed by me, this 26th day of January,

HARRY R. GILL. 

